Kenyan Clergymen Urged to talk about Sexual Orientation and Equality in Church

Article by Ken Were (BTM) Correspondent June 6, 2010 at 5:10amCourtesy: Mask Newline.

Religious Organizations in Kenya have been urged to promote human rights and embrace lesbians, gay, bisexuals, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people who are part of religious groups.

This, according to reverend Michael Kimundu of Metropolitan Community Church, will not be promoting gay marriages or homosexuality, but will be advancing awareness on sexual orientation, human dignity and rights amongst Christians and Muslims.

Speaking on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC)'s weekly morning family talk show, the Kimindu, also coordinator of Other Sheep East Africa, called on Churches to talk with zeal and openness about fundamental human rights and not use the bible to demonize members of the LGBTI community who are members of their churches.

Kimindu, challenged clergymen to accept realities of sexual orientation and its diversity in human beings.

"The bible or God did not discriminate any one. It talks of love, care and peace for all. This is the point my organization is trying to tell fellow clergymen and Christians and Muslims across the country that it is against the biblical teachings to chase away, isolate , hate and discriminate a member of the LGBTI community based on their sexual orientation ", Kimindu told the audience.

He also revealed that he has initiated an outreach mission to meet Church leaders with a view to provide civic education on human sexuality and sexual orientation in relationship to Christianity and the gospel.

He added that many clergymen in Kenya are in support of the course but are reluctant to speak publicly about the topic in their churches for fear of being sacked or excommunicated.

Rev. Kimundu, who was a senior clergy at the Anglican Church of Kenya in Nairobi, was excommunicated from the communion more than five years ago for openly supporting rights of LGBTI people in the Church.

"We are calling on church pastors, leaders and Imams in Mosques to help root out stigma directed at LGBTI members in their faith organizations. This is how the church can promote equality and human rights as is written in the holy scripture and the Koran that all human beings are the same in the eyes of God", Kimindu concluded.

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Founded in 1992 in Latin America, Other Sheep is a multicultural ecumenical Christian ministry that works worldwide for the full inclusion of LGBT people of faith within their respective faith traditions. Our motto is ". . . connecting people with people and people with resources . . . "

For about 5-7 weeks within the months of July and August of 2007 and 2008, Steve Parelli and Jose Ortizof Other Sheep visited East Africa. As a result, clergy and lay leaders of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, some of whom were already propagating the message of LGBT inclusion, were introduced to one another through Steve and Jose and in turn have come together to network and further the message of hope to the oppressed community of religious LGBT Africans. Other Sheep is a vehicle they use to raise their voices together on "faith and LGBT concerns."